Jan 9, 2007

Mohandas Gandhi said: "If you don't find God in the next person you meet, it is a waste of time to look any further."

I could analyze this to death, so I'll limit myself to this: We all have a divine spark in us and if we cannot recognize and acknowledge that in each other, we cannot recognize or acknowledge it in anything else. By focusing on seeing God in another person, we are also seeing past personality, habits, physical appearance, and behavior. We are seeing what makes the other person both unique and valuable.

I have found the above difficult to grasp and to practice. I do not automatically see the spirit in my fellow man. I would sooner stop at the surface, charmed or annoyed, and that would be that. On the days when I have focused on the above, affirming to myself that I will see God in the next person I meet (or that I will learn to see God in the next person I meet), I invariably experience a less critical mind in myself. I can see someone else's overweight, for example, but it just doesn't get my attention. In stead, some other loveliness does. I notice their good taste in clothes, a healthy walk, shiny hair cut well first. And the day inevitably is more joyful and filled with laughter. (The laughing Buddha is no bad symbol for the true nature of God.)

But that's the beauty: It isn't hard! I affirmed a few times, "Teach me to see God in the next person I meet all day." Some days I chose, "Let me see God in the next person I meet." And I became instantly less critical and the whole day was happier. It's that simple!

It works best if it's among the first things you do for the day - since we are talking about setting the day up. But affirmations work anytime. My experience is that it is such a turn-on to have a wonderfully smooth-sailing day, that I want to bless my day in the morning. I do it while I walk to work. Walking to work reminds me to do my daily affirmation the way going to bed reminds me to brush my teeth.

Oh, I like your suggestions. I'm hoping to ride the bus when I get to NY, since the clinic I'm likely to be working at is on a major street. I just need to live near a bus stop.

While I was waiting for the comments to come up just now, I realized that there is another way to look at this - seeing the Divine in one's SELF everyday. If for no other reason than one is more likely to treat oneself better - and thereby treat others better, as well.

I realized that there is another way to look at this - seeing the Divine in one's SELF everyday Quite so. We mustn't forget the connection we ourselves have. It can be challenging, though, looking into the mirror and declaring you want to find God. It does seem easier with others.

I do find that one nice side-effect to focusing on others, is that I forget to criticize myself. :-)

About Me

The Great Affirmation

Divine order takes charge of my life today and every day. All things work together for good for me today. This is a new and wonderful day for me. There will never be another day like this one. I am divinely guided all day long and whatever I do will prosper. Divine Love surrounds me and enwraps me, and I go forth in peace. Whenever my attention wanders away from that which is good and constructive, I will immediately bring it back to the contemplation of that which is lovely and of good report. I am a spiritual and mental magnet, attracting to myself all things which bless and prosper me. I am going to be a wonderful success in all my undertakings today. I am definitely going to be happy all day long.